Mark your calendars now for an amazing weekend of English Country Dancing in charming, friendly and funky Asheville, North Carolina.
We are so excited for this stellar line-up. With amazing performers coming from coast to coast, we welcome you to join in the fun. Great music; excellent calling and fine dancers from all over.
The Performers
Rachel Pusey has danced since her teens, starting with barn dances, leveling up to English, taking to Scottish with the zeal of a convert, briefly digressing into salsa, and lately catching the contra bug. For her, dance is a magical combination of cerebral pattern-making and the chance to express music as movement. She has taught SCD since 2004 and started calling ECD in 2016. Introducing new dancers to the joy and community of dancing is what motivates her as a caller and organizer. Her dancing homes have included Oxford, St Louis, the Bay Area, and Seattle, and she is grateful to the many generous dancers, teachers and callers she has met along the way.
Music by Jonathan Jensen, Mara Shea & Dean Herington
Mara Shea has been happily playing for dancers since the 1990s—mostly English,
Scottish, and contra—and is frequently heard at balls, dance weekends and
concerts in the US, Scotland, and Canada. She has been on the music staff at
dozens of dance weekends and has played for many American colonial era, Regency
and English country dance workshops and balls. Mara lives in Elon, North Carolina,
where she teaches Celtic fiddle online, and organizes the music for Sun Assembly,
her Durham, NC English country dance community. Mara’s website is
marashea.com; her English country dance music tracks recorded during the
pandemic (and also recently) are on her website and at marashea.bandcamp.com.
Jonathan Jensen grew up taking piano lessons and making up his own songs and pieces. On discovering the double bass in middle school, he decided to make it his career, which led to 42 seasons as a bassist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. But the piano playing and composing never went away, which proved a boon when he discovered the world of English country dance. He has been playing for dances, balls, workshops and dance weeks for over 40 years, during which time he composed the tunes for many well-loved contemporary dances. He is also known for his topical, snarky song parodies, and his capabilities on a variety of instruments including a collection of vintage ocarinas.
Unfortunately, Dean Herington died in early October after a brief illness. This is a great loss to his family and to the music and dance community.
Flutist Rebecca Kleinmann will be joining us. We will update the webpage soon. For a sneak preview, click here.
The Dance Hall
The event will be held again at the beautiful Masonic Temple in the heart of Asheville. Beautiful hardwood dance floor, high ceilings, turn-of-the-century ambience – and mostly, room to dance! All dances and workshops will be held on the main floor.
The Schedule
Friday
7:00 pm Welcome and Check-in
7:30 – 10:30 pm Evening Dance
Saturday
Workshops
10:45 – 12:30 PM
Advanced workshop
Bright Ideas and Puzzle Pieces
Inspiration for our dances comes in many forms – a beautiful tune, a special event or person, the effortless flow of elegant figures, or bringing historical sources to life. But sometimes a choreographer just wakes up with a clever idea and then sets to work crafting it into a dance. These dances challenge our brains to grasp novel patterns and our bodies to move with precision and purpose. Come ready to be surprised and – hopefully! – delighted.
Note: $15 extra charge. Extra challenging dances for experienced dancers who are in tune to the music and their fellow dancers, and who enjoy both familiar favorites without teaching and complex dances which reward attentiveness to teaching. Cheerful recovery skills and knowledge of ECD figures and basic repertoire are expected.
12:30 – 2:00 : Lunch Ramble
Lunch is on your own. You’re right there in downtown Asheville – wander and enjoy!
2:15 – 4:00- ECD Workshop For all
Anglo-Scottish Connections
Over the last century, the traditions of English and Scottish country dance have diverged noticeably, but they have so much history in common. We’ll explore Scottish figures that have crossed over into modern ECD, take a fresh look at triple minors, and even dance a couple of well-loved SCD. (Scottish steps will be briefly introduced but not required.)
Saturday Evening Dance
7:15 – 7:30 pm Evening Waltz
7:30- 10:30 pm Evening DANCE PArty
Elegant attire welcome but not required.
Enthusiastic attitude – absolutely!
Sunday
11:00 am – 1:30 pm Morning Dance for All
The Dancers’ Year
Let’s wend our way through a whole year with dances inspired by the changing seasons.
Register now!
Sign up now for a weekend of English Country Dancing – Great music, fun workshops, strong community!
Tickets for individual Dances?
Although we would love for you to come for the whole weekend, tickets for individual dances may be available for purchase. If space is available, they may available at the door. Check back in early February.
Logistics
Where to Stay
There are a number of hotels and Bed and Breakfast accommodations are located in or near downtown Asheville, several within walking distance of the dance hall. There are several more budget-friendly hotels are located on or near Tunnel Road, a 5-10 minute drive.
Staying with people in town is always a good idea too. Call your Asheville friends early!
Where to Park – Yes, It can be a challenge!
All events are at the Masonic Temple, 80 Broadway St, Asheville, NC 28801. If you’re staying at one of the nearby hotels, use their lot of course.
Otherwise, there is parking available at 35 Woodfin St. for a nominal fee, 2 blocks East. Metered spaces are free after 6PM, and all day Sunday. At last check, parking at Home Trust bank, right across the street, was $3/hour. City of Asheville lots run about $2 an hour. If you choose to utilize other parking lots or public garages, note the hourly and daily rates which will be more costly. Street parking on Central Avenue near the YMCA is free, though it requires a window sticker during the workday. There is also free parking in the lots on Cherry Street, just north of I-240, close to the skate park as well as in the neighborhoods just north of downtown.